Hours CD

It's true that more than a few eyebrows were raised when Earthling was first released way back in 1997. Critics, in particular, were not particularly impressed by David Bowie's efforts to incorporate elements of drum & bass within his sound. In hindsight, though, it was pure Bowie; ever the musical chameleon, he simply wanted to try something new. As this reissue proves, for the most part the iconic artist got it right, delivering an album that used skittish D&B breakbeats to emphasize the angry, dark subject matter of its' songs (an effect heightened by the Nine Inch Nails feel to many cuts). While Earthling was far from Bowie's best, it arguably sounds stronger now than it did when it was first released. He always was a far-sighted innovator, of course.